Chapter 83.3: Each and Every One All Very Crazy
Jing Wan headed to the main courtyard to go pay her respects to Luo Old Madam. After seeing Jing Wan’s complexion quite good and her spirits also great, Luo Old Madam finally relaxed.
Having just returned, Luo Old Madam didn’t keep her for too long either, and let her go back to rest.
While pa.s.sing through the gardens, Jing Wan saw Luo Jing Ying in front of a flower bush, tearing away at the flower petals, unsure what she was thinking about. Her gaze wasn’t focused. Jing Wan was right in front of her, yet she didn’t have the slightest reaction. Suddenly, Luo Jing Ying began foolishly smiling, carrying a feeling like she was still dreaming.
Jing Wan didn’t know what kind of expression she should make. She’d only gone out for a few days. How come as soon as she go back, this sworn rival turned into a maiden in love?
Luo Jing Ying’s servant girl saw Jing Wan’s gaze towards her own miss and really couldn’t bear it anymore. Taking the risk of getting punished, she lightly tugged Luo Jing Ying’s clothes, “Miss….”
“What?” Luo Jing Ying glared at the servant girl in annoyance.
And before Luo Jing Ying lashed out, that servant girl pointed in Jing Wan’s direction.
Luo Jing Ying followed her finger and looked over, momentarily blanking. Soon after, recalling her appearance just now, seemingly having all fallen into Jing Wan’s eyes, she felt both vexed and angry. However, she didn’t lash out, but rather gently smiled, “So third sister has returned, greetings third sister.” And properly performed her greetings, neither half-heartedly, nor rudely.
Jing Wan neither quickly nor slowly returned the courtesy.
“Third sister has just gotten back and must be tired. This younger sister won’t be bothering big sister then.”
Jing Wan looked to Luo Jing Ying’s retreating figure. She didn’t pick a fight. In fact, she didn’t even speak in a weird tone. Her being normal just seemed too abnormal.
“Mama, what do you think she’s playing at this time?” Jing Wan asked.
“I suppose it’s because fourth miss has some little secrets and has quietly immersed herself within them, not wis.h.i.+ng to be bothered by others, so naturally she’s become gentle.”
Jing Wan thought to herself with a sigh, ‘This power of love sure was strong, just don’t know which family’s young master it was. However, a man that was able to make Luo Jing Ying fall for him, afraid, his status isn’t ordinary. In fact, he might even be of the imperial family. Although, that has nothing to do with her anyways. As long as she had that capability, even if she became a pampered consort of the imperial harem, Jing Wan still wouldn’t bat an eye.
Returning to Elegant Haitang Residence, Jing Wan asked her wet nurse about the things that have happened in these last few days. Aside from the major matters that caused an uproar throughout the capital, in this Luo family’s rear court, the most lively was probably the third branch.
Ever since Luo Rong Ping began brazenly s.h.i.+elding Huan Niang, Liu-s.h.i.+ for the most part have truly shed all pretenses of cordiality with him, and relying on Luo Old Madam’s ‘support’, began directly tearing face with Huan Niang. This kind of ‘relying on one’s status as the female master to torment the concubine’, after disregarding all qualms, really was just bold and self-righteous, with no trace of politeness. And it was precisely because she had used all her tricks out in the open, it was simple and crude. As for Huan Niang who was more adept at secret maneuver, she really didn’t have too much power to hold her own. More importantly, because she was restricted by her status, what Liu-s.h.i.+ could do, she couldn’t do. If she dared to, then Liu-s.h.i.+ can just directly sell her off, or even have her beaten to death with the rod.
Huan Niang was all kinds of vexed and sullen, but she was an extremely patient one. Whatever Liu-s.h.i.+ let her do, she did. In any case, she wasn’t going to let Liu-s.h.i.+ catch anything to use against her. In fact, she didn’t even have the matter of getting bullied by Liu-s.h.i.+ told to Luo Rong Ping, playing out her pitiful image to the max. Many servants all couldn’t bear to watch. After all, Huan Niang was still pregnant.
Liu-s.h.i.+ watched on with indifference. Regarding the servants’ remarks behind her back, she naturally knew. Yet, towards this, she didn’t have anything to say in the least, even letting these remarks spread until her deeds were listed in full detail to Luo Rong Ping. Afterwards, Luo Rong Ping naturally went to look for Liu-s.h.i.+. Thus, between this pair, erupt an unprecedented dispute. After that, Luo Rong Ping finally experienced for himself Liu-s.h.i.+’s concealed insanity and viciousness. Liu-s.h.i.+ even nearly scratched up Luo Rong Ping’s face. Just, he ended up injuring his neck from dodging.
Luo Rong Ping even threatened to divorce her, but Liu-s.h.i.+ just gloomily stared at him, “Luo Rong Ping, you dare to divorce me?”
“I’ll divorce you right now, you jealous woman.”
“Luo Rong Ping, if you dare write the divorce letter, as soon as I step out of the Luo family gates, I’ll immediately go sound the deng wen drums[1].”
“You…..” Luo Rong Ping was quite taken aback. He didn’t expect that Liu-s.h.i.+ would actually dare do something like this, “How dare you…..”
“Why would I not dare to? You dare to bring back a lowly s.l.u.t to crawl on top of my head, then I’ll just drag the entire Luo family to go die.”
“You’ve practically gone insane!” Luo Rong Ping stormed off in a huff.
Liu-s.h.i.+ coldly stared in the direction which Luo Rong Ping left in, “I am insane, driven insane by all of you!”
Deng Wen Drums, unless the country has fallen, or the emperor has perished, cannot be sounded. If not for the army returning in triumph, it cannot be sounded. If not for great grievance under the heavens, it cannot be sounded. The deng wen drums had no guards; anyone can sound them. But, if one were to casually sound them, a light punishment would be the entire clan reduced to criminal slaves and sentenced away to the borders. And a heavy punishment would be directly confiscating the family properties and exterminating the entire clan. Nothing more than just petty back manor dispute, yet dare to go strike the deng wen drums, never mind that Luo Pei Shan was just the Head Minister of Rites, even the Head of the Cabinet Ministers can’t afford this crime either.
Luo Rong Ping refrained from shooting the rat in fear of breaking the vases. He had no choice but to just go back and console his little darling, letting her need not pay any attention to Liu-s.h.i.+. And if Liu-s.h.i.+ sends someone to find her, she doesn’t need to go.
Huan Niang quietly listened, even comforting Luo Rong Ping from time to time. If the man was unreliable, then she could only rely on herself. Thus, Huan Niang locked herself in her courtyard, not taking a step out the door. She didn’t have anything else, but she still had a bit of money. If ten taels of silver can’t bribe a person, then just spend a hundred taels. Since Liu-s.h.i.+ wasn’t easy to deal with, then just start with her son.
You come, I go, fighting openly and scheming covertly, practically can’t be more lively.
“Strike the deng wen drums? Third aunt really can’t be underestimated. Mama, is there really no one guarding the deng wen drums?”
“In the past, no, but ever since six years ago, they’ve been guarded. Just the person is in the innermost layer, so the people outside can’t see.”
“Eh, why?” Suddenly adding a guard can’t be without reason.
Gong mama paused for a moment, “Because Jin Qinw.a.n.g, who at the time, had left the palace for the first time, was bored and climbed up the drum tower, nearly sounding the deng wen drums. Ever since then, his Majesty has ordered someone to guard the deng wen drum tower.”
“Jin Qinw.a.n.g……” Jing Wan was speechless. “Logically speaking, there shouldn’t be too many people that know about this matter. Mama, how did you find out?”
“………inadvertently heard it in the palace.”
Luo Jing Ying returned to the third branch. Ever since her parent’s big fight, her father never appeared in their third branch main courtyard again. However, he unexpectedly came today, and moreover, had the servants all kicked out. Luo Jing Ying worried that they were going to fight again and went in to stop them, disregarding the consequences……
“…..Kang Qinw.a.n.g is where the mandate of heaven falls, if Ying’er can marry him……”
[1] Deng Wen Drums – ‘Deng Wen’ translates to ‘to make known’.